Economy picking up: THE economy jumped ahead in the second quarter of this year, picking up pace after six months of sluggish growth, official figures showed yesterday.

Data from the Office for National Statistics showed that the economy registered growth of 0.9 per cent in the second quarter, which was in line with economists' expectations. The rise follows a prolonged period of near stagnant growth. GDP measured just 0.1 per cent in both the first quarter of this year and the last quarter of last year.

Life member: Gerry Passman, regional public relations officer in Northumberland and Durham for the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), retires next month after 15 years' service. He has been made a life member of the association.

Tussauds total: Alton Towers-to-London Eye operator Tussauds drew 15 million visitors last year. Figures from the group showed turnover rose 12 per cent to £137m, with underlying earnings up 43 per cent at £43.8m last year.

MORE CLUBS: Health club operator LA Fitness has opened 12 new clubs, including its first overseas venture in Spain, this year. The group now has 53 clubs, the firm said in a trading update ahead of its results, due in October. The London company has a target of 70 clubs in the UK by July 31, next year, with 17 sites already fixed and more in negotiation.

earnings dip: Kingston Communications said yesterday its first quarter performance had been in line with hopes despite a drop in core underlying earnings. The Hull group's earnings before tax and one-off items dipped to £8.6m in the three months to June 30, down on £10.7m the previous quarter